What a Difference an Outfit MakesDecember 5, 2025 So as many of you know, I'm dressing a little differently these days. Really it's not much, it's just a more classic, quiet quality look.
I'm also having fun with this jacket and my wider-legged pants that look very good with the tops I'm making for the Armani pants.
But the difference in what happens outside my home with strangers is remarkable. I mean, I'm not bad looking, for
a 76 y/o, and that's nice, but also there are a lot better looking babes out there than me.
Even just the little bit of jewelry adds a certain quality that all black wouldn't but without that jewelry the look is still screaming quiet quality.
I did an experiment on this one time with Home Depot. I went over there dressed in my
paint-stained top (old one from Walt), and a pair of dilapidated old pants, and looked just about as authentic a painter as you can imagine. You would think that this sort of outfit would garner maximum authenticity and service from the store. It didn't. And I'm not mad at Home Depot. They are just indicative of retail as a whole, so this isn't a rip on Home Depot.
But I did drop by on my way home from church, wearing my church clothes, which are a
lot dressier than what I wear when I paint. And the staff was falling all over themselves to wait on me. I looked like the furthest thing from any DIY-er, painter, or fixer-upper. But there I was with the service people at Home Depot, practically standing in line to wait on me. The truth is that this is endemic throughout all of retail. But it goes further than that. The quiet quality look means that even when I'm standing in line getting tickets for the movie, or I'm at the grocery store, standing in line to check out, I have some employee come up and say, "There's no line on check out #19!"
without even having to ask or look like I need special attention.
Granted, this could be because I look stupid, but I don't think so. When I'm in public, I have my OKC Police look. I helped start a volunteer program for the Oklahoma City Police Department many decades ago, and one of the things I learned was how to "be" in public to prevent from even looking like a victim, much less being one. When you don't look like a victim, you look like you would be too much
trouble to harass, so most of the time, ne'er-do-wells will leave you alone. So that's the persona I take on when in public - I'm too wiry to hassle with!
This is one of those model looks, but dang, everything's in place and looks like I'm ready for Nantucket or the Hamptons. Believe me, this is how they dress. They do NOT want to call attention to themselves, and yet they look richer than Croesus!
So it takes a little moxy for an employee to come up to me and ask if I need help. But the quiet quality look also seems more
approachable and particularly when it's not egregious or over-done.
And this is the reason we're bored with the Grammy Awards! Yikes, it's like you need to put on shades to protect your sensibilities.
And then you get this. These were mostly taken in the late 80s and early 90s and they are still wearable today. Every one of them. This is classic timelessness.
I'm fascinated by this one, cause I have my hands in my pockets, and it looks better than no hands in pockets. Probably because the hips are larger and gives more of a silhouette.
At first, I was a little shocked. I'm so used to going into a store and NOT garnering attention and NOT wanting to draw attention to myself that it was a little off-putting. If I need help, I'll go hunting for it. Most of the time, I know where
the knits, activewear, crepes, avocados, turkey burgers, and anything else are located in a store.
Even today, I had eye surgery (laser - no big deal), but the doctor was so kind and lovely - more so than he used to be, which really blew me away. I think I'll keep this look for a while. It makes me feel like some wizened old sage or something, yet
I look and act like I'm 30. Well, maybe not 30. I was pretty lively back then. Of course I can't recommend this way of dressing enough.
It's comfy fun and really remarkably effective. My core wardrobe consists of:
Most of all, it's so much fun and nice to have a little different silhouette. I've loved my knit tops and leggings, but after almost 30 years of them, it feels fresh, exciting and new to be sewing something fun.
This takes on a new meaning. I've been going to this doctor and these stores
for ages (20 years plus), and all this time, I thought I had been incognito.
Then again, it is nice to get that extra-special feeling when someone wants to help you in a store.
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Tracking a fashion trend isn't all that hard after seeing a few of them.
Living from Mid-Century Modern through Twiggy...
It's worth the time to look at these styles, particularly today as
there is a group of that wants to look....
This is the way fashion used to be -- pretty, flattering and I can't wait to make some of...
NOTE: There are some folks who can't get my email, or it's sporadic, or something is hinky. I will always respond to any of you who send a private message, whether it's about the topic of the week or something else. If you don't get anything
from me, it's probably because the support@sewingartistry.com email is blocked, and even a private message can't get through. In that case, I'm on Instagram often, and you can always PM me at @sewingartistry.
As a precaution,
please ensure I'm in your email Address Book and check your spam, junk, and trash folders. Some email clients get extra excited when they see emails coming into the Inbox that go to many other receivers. They automatically think it's trash or spam, and it never makes it to the Inbox. I must constantly check my spam and junk folders to ensure I'm getting the emails I subscribe to.
To view in browser along with past emails, click here. We respect your email privacy. |
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